Wire line core barrel



Oct. 14, 1952 T. l.. LONG WIRE LINE CORE BARREL 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 20, 1950 T. L. LONG WIRE LINE CORE BARREL Oct. 14, 1952 Filed Feb. 20. 1950 3 Sheetssheet INVENTOR. THU/VFS 0A/G BY 9M lwl a# nrrae/Ey www .L f...

oct. 14, 1952 T. l.. LONG 2,613,918

WIRE LINE CORE BARREL Filed Feb. 20, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IGl /eo dg Y 49 4 INVENTOR- 5o fop/g5- 0A/G u BY CLM/.a

Vroem-5 Patented oci. v14, 1952 UNITED. STATES vmileiv'rf-Qoeinen W'IRELINE CORE BARREL ThomasLeonardkfLong, Houston, Tex.,assignor, by lmesne assignments, to Johnston Testers, I nc., Houston, T ex., a corporationof 'Delaware' Application February 20, 1950,- Serial No. 145,229.

: cniips. (o1. Z55- 72) This invention relates to oil-well tools and. parportion of a core drill showing .the upper-portion l ticularly pertains to an improvement inwire line of a core barrel to belowered on a .wire line [and i core barrel. Y f f temporarily locked in the core drill.

#Infthe oil tool industry it-is usual to obtain Va Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section show- 'sample ofthe drilling formation'by the use of a 5 ing the fragmentary portionvv of the Ilrarijeland -core drill through which is inserted acore barrel drill structure forming a continuation. 4of the suspended upon a wire line and lowered through partsy shown in Fig. 1 and indicating the position Ia supporting-drill string to an interlocked posiof the packer within the drill body.

tion Within the drill structure.The core barrel Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal ection and -is fitted at its lower end with a. circular cutter 10 elevation showing the core barrelextndingoutv head to cut a pencil-like core inthe formation. wardly `through the lower end of. the rdrill bi't.

-The barrel lis also fitted with a core catcher Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal -hwhich engages the core so that. when AVthe core section as seen onrthe line 4 4 of Fig. 2 and @barrel is elevated from within vthe drill structure showsv the length of the core barrelsupporting the core will be carried with it. It is usual to structure occurring above the p acler.v` cause the core barrel to project a :considerable Fig. 5 is a view in longitudinal ctionas seen distance below the point of protrusion through on theI line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and shows the packer the drill bit and since circulation of drillingfluid f structure and its mounting.v

does not normally take place at `the operating Fig. 6 is a. view in longitudinal section show.- depth of the core cutter any iluid occurring 20 ing the core barrel structure and the trap valve within the well bore at this vdepth will be relatherefor. v' tively stagnant so that the chips,` cut during .the Fig. 7 isa view in transverse section through yoperation will accumulate withinv the cylindrical the structure as seen von the line 'I-'-I of Fig. 4 vcurve formed by vthe cutter head. This will and shows the fluid circulating ports above. the cause the chips and drilling vvparticles to tend. to packer. accumulate inthe cutting area andv retard Vthe Fig. 8 is a view in transverse lsection as's'ee'n progress of the drilling operation. It is desirable on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4 and shows Vthe spline therefore to provide means whereby drilling fluid connection between the packer and mandrel and circulation will 'be' established .and-,maintained the supporting collar for the packer. at and around the core barrel cutting head there- 30 Referring more particularly to the drawings,

by flushing the cutting area and removing the Ifindicates the driving sub of a standard wire chips and' otherv drilled material .as the -core line core drill. This 'sub is supported from a v barrel-r. drilling operation proceeds.y It is .the string of drill pipe not shown. The sub is fitted principal object' of the present invention therewitha locking shoulder II which is engaged vby fore tofprovidea wire line core barrel and cutter the latch dog I2 and other partsof a latchfhead head structure which maybe lowered through Agenerally indicated at I3.v Extending downa lcore drill'bit and disposed indriving relation wardly from the sub I0 is a drill collar lllwhich therethrough land which'structure is designed is tubular in formation and which fat its lower to permit fluid circulation through the core bar-` vend carries a desiredl type of drill bit I5. The rel and along the walls of -the bore formedr by 40 collar I4 is formed with a central vertical bore the vcore barrel cutting head, the iluid thereafter f I6 ywhich is of `a relatively large diameter and flowing upwardly with suspended solids and into through which the KVwireline core barrel struct lthe'main well bore. v ture I'I is lowered. `In this particular case thev The present invention contemplatesv the proupper end ofthe wire line core barrel is formed vision of a conventional 'wire line support and 45 with a telescoping cylindrical portion I8 which locking Ahead for a core barreland by'which a .moves with relation to a mandrel I9.Y At ...the core barrel is carried,A the core barrel being tted lower end of the mandrel I9 is a collar 20 and Witha packer whichmay be set to pack olf the between thecylindrical portion I8 and the collar central bore in the drill collar and-to thereafter 2|) is a spring 2| which tends to-urge the collar insure that fluid circulation will be continued downwardly. The collar 20 mayobeformedwith downl through the barrel and through and around a threaded box to receive a pinv 22 formedat the the cutter' head. upper end ofa perforated nipple 23.l This stru-cf 1 The invention is illustrated by way of example ture maybe of a desired length and at its lower *inthe accompanying drawings in which: end carries a travel collar 24. The travel collar Figure 1'isv afragmentary view. ofv the upper hasv an outside diameter suiilciently lessfthan Y uid circulating space 25. When drilling with the bit I5 fluid circulates freely and downwardly through the bore I6 in the collar and outwardly through the eyes of the bit. The lower end of the travel collar 24 is formed with an internally threaded b gxbto receive a pin 21 of av sliding lhead 28( The 'sliding' head is mounted upon a tubulariiinndrel 29 "which extends upwardly through the member 28 and into a counterbore 30 within the lower end of the travel collar 24. Complementary keyWays'SI and 32 .arej formed in the opposite walls of the mandrel as Well as the slidingv head and travelingcolla-r. YThekey- Ways 32 in the last named members Mend-23 are longitudinally aligned'whenthe threads on the members 26 and 21 are tightened. The upper end of the mandrel 29 has an externally threaded section 33 which receives a packing' head y"34.

The packing head is here shown as formed with '1afplurality-of'sduare packing# lgroovesf35 lwhich r`receive Of'rings F36 itlcr'eate alfiuidfseal between the head S-and the V"counterbcire dwhieh permits'the mandrel and"thehead lto reciprocate within-the *counterbore The i lower'ehd of the 'sliding Vhead-28 vrests against an lupper packer "collar 3l 'and isjfrm'ed'with a threaded extension 38 which is vthreaded.into abounterbore 39 formed packing-collar43-is-suitably vassociated lwith the endA of the sleeve di) a'ndisA Vformed with a threaded 'oounterbore '44 v which engages threads 'e5 upon vthe mandrel. vEnlarged lower `fportion1 I of the jdrilliiuidwexit ducts,v 5l) -by which huid `from :Withinsde thief- '(72101121.32-IBl maybe directed to the "cuttingarea of the cutter head 9. Extending longitudinally withinthe vcore barrelv collard8 Vis a core -catchertube v5I 'which carries core *catching 1merr`1bers`52 at -its lower end. `The jupper end'ofthe tube 5| is formed-with a plug' Y'i3'having a-central opening 54 therethrough.

the opening 54l fand' within ythe plug. `A vvalve 'check ball 56 nc'armally'rests upon'the seatand is 'held in position byaf springEl. i may be heldfagainst longitudinal movement by a pin 59' carried at vlthe upper end of the plug 53." It is cbviousfthat other check valve -means vmight be provided if *desired Attention is directed to the factthatthe outside diameter 'of the ycore catcher* tube v5I is sucientlyf less than 'the inside diameter 59 of the-core drill collar 48' and that a fluid circulating space mW-ill occur for a purpose to be hereinafter' described. '1 tf willfbe understood that'ithe 'travel' collar 24 yhas i a' fluid l passageway 24" in communication v with an# opening 34 'in the-packing 'head-34? and thatthe mandrel'Z'S has a" central pening 29' leading downwardly and 'being' in communication with'y the `opening`59 'inthe -core drill vcollar `t8.

The spring f' In operation it' is common 4practice 'to' lower thecutting drill I 5 "and its collar on 'ai supportstringof-drilllpipe "and tdrill a hole' 6 I Ttoaf v-in the driving sub III. -drill is v4thus positioned its collar E8 will project 4 1 bottom level 62. At this level it is assumed a core is to be cut, this is done byV running ahead of the bottom level 62 and cutting a core from the formation which has not yet been drilled. The bit I5 is elevated and when this operation is accomplished by the use of a wire line core barrel av structure as vgenerally indicated at I'I is lprovided.v This isv lowered 'through a drill string on a'wi're 1ine-until the Ilatch member I2 of the latch head I3 engages suitable lugs II When the Wire line core beyond the'lower end of the bit I5 a considerable The drillfstring is then lowered with engagement withva surface 62 at the bottom of 4`infthe upperf-nd ofthe packer'collar '31. The ^packer*collarAllv is associated `with' a packer sleeve @I0 throughy whichHthe `mandrel 29 extends. .lower*'secti'onwof the mandreldseformed with an fenlarged' portion 4I ffag'reeing substantially vin outside-diameter with v that -of the `sliding `head 28. and thus Lprovidesal shoulder '42 againstw'hich la -lower packing"collar-i43lm'ay frest.. The lower the well bore. The spring 2l in the core bit structure will tend to yieldably urge the bit downwardly at the same time weight is imposed upon the' upper. packer collar; 31 through the Vperforated lnipple 23,v the. travelg' collar.4 24 and the 'sliding head 23. This will cause the packers-Revert!) to 'becomp'ressed longitudinally vand,v expanded circumferentially-so; that the vpacker -will compact to the time the vpacker 40' is cset-circulation-,of drill iiuid is; 'maintainedA `downwardly through the drill string, Athe -drill collar I4,and out- :pass inwardly 'through Y.theperforations 23Afin thewallV of thefperforated nipple 23 andthen upwardly throughthe, centralopening 24'. in a traveling head 2li-fand then through the central opening29 in themandrelfZS. In view ofethe fact that the check-'M1155' is closed thistiiuid will then iiow` downwardlyin thefzpassageway yoccurring betweenfthe"coregebarrel 5I and -.the

corevdrill collar 48`and thenr outwardly through the usual water course at the bottom of theol-1tter head of the core barrel. Fluidwillthen-flow upwardly around the core -barrel collarA 48 .and

will 'complete its circulation into fthe; open. hole. A core 63 will thusbecutfwithin'the core fbarrel y5 I'I and will be rcaught: by 4the corev catcher. nnger vv(ill. l

n. IWin thus be seen rthatrthe; improvementin wire line co'rebarrels here disclosed4 provides simple and` eifective ymeans to" create positive duid-circulation through the coreldrillandv-therearound whereby crculationof uidwithin vthe collar of the core drill-will takeplacepositively andV iiuidy circulation :in the water courses of the core cutting head will take place sol-that chips may be removed from'the-bore formedby :the cutting head and so` that the .cutting head Vwill ybe'lubricated su'iciently in ffthe=same manner as fluid circulation through the-usual drill -bitf is accomplished.

`While II have sho'wnthe preferredform of-my invention asnowknown to me,it will be understood -that various changes may bemade `in combination, Vconstruction 4and-arrangement of -parts by those skilled -in1fthef1'art|, ywithout Adeparting from 'the spirit of --the-invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention,y -what :.I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

L'In a device fortaking icores, a rotatable drill collar, a cutter` head onthe-lower end offthe :drill collarrA having 'av central:A borejand upwardly; ex-

f. tending passageways in the f walls thereof communicating 'with the interior of the drill collar at points outwardly of the central bore, a core barrel mounted on the cutter head and extending upwardly therefrom'and closing off communication ,between the central bore and the interior of the drillI collar and having theinterior thereof in communication with the central bore of the cutter head, said Lcore barrelhaving the walls thereof i spaced fromy the interior of the drill collar tov provide an annular space forthe passage of fluid vto *thel passageways inthe cutter head,l a packer on the exterior of the drillcollar for engagement with the interior of a drill string or the like, said drill collar having an opening therethrough above the packer communicating the exterior of the drill collar with the interiorthereof, `and means for connecting the drill collar to a` drill string to permit driving of thedrill collar. A`

2. In a device for taking cores, a rotatable drill collar, a cutter head on the lower end ofthe drill collar having a central bore and upwardly -extending passagewaysin lthe walls thereof communicating with the interior of the drill collar atpoints'outwardly of the vcentralbore, a core j barrel lr'nountedon the cutter head Aand extending upwardly therefrom and' closing off communica- Y tion between the central bore and the interior of the drill collar and having theinterior thereof in y communication with-,the central bore of the cutter lhead, said core barrel havingthe walls thereof fspaced from vthe interior of the ldrill collar to provide an annular space'for thepassage of fluid to the passageways lin the cutter head, and an lexpandable packer surrounding the drill collar Y and adapted to be expanded into engagement with 1 the interior of a drill' string, said drill collarf having anY opening therethrough above the packer communicating the exterior o f the collar with the interior thereof, means engaging said packer and telescopically but non-rotatably engaging said n n I. drill collar for expanding said packer uponlowering of said means relativeto the drill collar, and means for connecting the last named means to a drill vstring 'or `the like to `permit driving of the drill collar. y

3. In a device for taking cores, a rotatable drill i `l collar, a cutter head onthe lower end of the drill collar having a central bore andupwardly ex-` tending passageways in the walls thereof com- -fmunicating withtheinterior of the drill collar at 'points outwardly of vthe central bore, a core barrel mounted on the cutter head and extending ,upwardly therefrom and closing off communication between 'the central bore and the interior of the drill collar and having the interior thereof in communicationwith the central'bore of the cutter head, said core barrel having the walls thereof spaced from the interior of the drill collar to provide an annular space for the passage of lfluid to the passageways in the cutter head, an

expandable packer surrounding the drillV collar and adapted to be expanded into engagementwith the interior of a' drill string,-said drill collar hav-l ing an opening therethrough above the packer communicating the exterior of the collar with the interior thereof, means vengaging said packer and telescopically' but non-rotatably engaging saidk drill collar yfor expanding said packer uponzlowe'r'- ing of said Ameans relative to the drill collar,fand means for connecting the last named means to a drill string orthe like to permit driving of the drill collar, the second named'means including a telescopicvbut non-rotatable joint resiliently urged into extended position.

l A4. In adevioe for taking cores, a rotatable drill collar, a cutterheadon the lower end 'of the'A drill collar havinga central'bore and upwardly extending-passageways in the walls thereof communicating with the interior of the drill collar at pointsoutwardly of thev central bore, a core barrel mounted on the cutter head and extending upwardly. therefrom and closing off communication between the central bore and the interior of the drill collarand having the interior thereof in communication with the central bore of the cutter head, said core barrel having the walls thereof spaced from the interior of the drill collar to providean annular `space for the passage of uid vto the passageways in the cutter head, and an expandable packer' surrounding the drill collar and' adapted; to be expanded into engagement withy the interior of a drill string, said drill collar having an opening therethrough above the packer communicating the exterior of the collar with the interior thereof, means engaging said'packer and telescopically but non-rotatablyy engaging said drillcollar for expanding said packer upon lowering of said means relative to the drill collar, and means for connecting the last named means to a `drill string or the like to permit driving of the drill collar,the` second named means including a telescopic but non-rotatable joint resiliently urged `into extended position, and a retractable latch on the upper portion of the joint for engagement with a'drill string for establishing a rotary drive therewith. l

` THOMAS LEONARD LONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the *me of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

